Band Of The Week - The Gypsy Bears

Hey Kids!

So for my first post up on the blog here, I will be putting up the Band of the week. This week, and my first, I figured I would feature a long running, but sorely understated punk/pop/alt/rock band call The Gypsy Bears.

These guys have been rocking it up for over a decade now. Formed back in 2001 by Samson Nand and Jake Broten, the band would be called "Dr. Rockstar and The Gypsy Bears" later going in a direction that would hold them strictly to "The Gypsy Bears". They came out the gates with a slight electro sound that would eventually evolve and a stage performance that made mainstay bands look bored with life. To watch them, you'd almost think that they were doing it strictly as a performance art that had little to do with performing music. Granted, having seen them for the first time around 2006, I didn't hear a note.

I only stood in amazement with the crowd and would be witness to a 200+ pound front man literally spinning in circles, with the bass player under his arm flailing away, never missing a note, singing a chorus while the guitarist jumped up and down in a manic fashion and would jump upwards of four or five feet from standing. I shit you not, I really wish I was. But, I am not shitting anyone here and can say with all honesty, I was not doing any form of drugs at the time.

The drum machine would play on in the background as they would find a way to throw themselves into more of a frenzy finding things to get more air off of, and more eye candy for the masses to consume. I wish I could remember that singers name, but it escapes me. If you read this, sorry dude. You were fucking amazing, though.

As time would pass they would have a couple of line up changes and additions, (A notable one being the addition of their first true drummer in Charlie "Fergie" McLean of Conniving Cadavers fame and currently with Ghost Factory) eventually recruiting one of Calgary's best kept secrets of drumming, Scott Parrell. This would open the doors to the Gypsy bears we know and love today.

The music is very high energy and reminds us of what 90's skate/pop punk had to offer. With no topic they won't touch base on, you can hear the work and thought they have put into the individual songs. As you watch their set go from Johnny Frost to a cover of Bad Brains P.M.A., you can see as each of the member brings their own piece to the puzzle. It is an interesting dynamic that most bands cannot pull off, but the Bears  have managed to find their own way of doing it, and doing it well.

Songs laced with unique and deep bass riffs, fast guitar riffs that go everywhere and more being held together with some of the most original drumming to be seen these days, they have  brought back positive, fun punk rock music in the only way the Bears can. Technical, fast and on time, everytime. The stage show, though tamed down now, you can still see them rock out harder than most anyone else and you'll seldom ever hear them miss a beat. Even if they did, you wouldn't notice. They would't let you stop having a good time to do so.

So, with that being said, I am slightly excited and need some alone time and a beer. I've always been happy to find the shows they are playing which is funny as it is not the kind of music I would normally find myself rocking the fuck out to. But alas, here I am, gushing like a pre-teen bed wetter in line for the new Twilight crud 'n stuff movie. You like your punk fast? How about technical? How about painfully high energy? Do you got that PMA?

If you answered yes to any of these, check them out. you will not regret it.

Go like their facebook.

Cheers all and until next time,

Davey